The question today is: where was Jesus transfigured? The story of Jesus’ transfiguration can be found in Matthew 17. In the chapter before that, we find Jesus and the disciples in Caesarea Philippi, which is in the north-east of the current nation of Israel. Let’s read a few verses in Matthew 17:
“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.”
(Matthew 17:1-2 ESV)
So, on which mountain was Jesus transfigured? Tradition says it’s Mount Tabor. But that’s 65 km away from where Jesus was in the last chapter: Caesarea Philippi. That’s a long walking distance!
It is way more likely logistically, and makes way more sense theologically speaking, that the “high mountain” was Mount Hermon, which is right there next to Caesarea Philippi, on the border with Lebanon and Syria. Mount Tabor with its 575 meters isn’t really a high mountain. Mount Hermon is with its 2814 meters!
Mount Hermon symbolizes evil. According to the noncanonical book of 1 Enoch, Mount Hermon was the place where the evil Watchers came down to conspire against YHWH and make a plan to create their own imagers by having sex with human women.
The result of their rebellion is found in the story of Noah, in Genesis 6. The hybrid children of these Watchers were called Nephilim (giants). They filled the earth with wickedness.
When Jesus came, he came to reverse this curse. He was transfigured and showed his divine glory on the very place where the biggest rebellion according to Judaism ever took place. YHWH flexed his muscles and showed the evil principalities and powers that even Mount Hermon is his!
Why did Jesus, when he was transfigured, encounter Moses and Elijah? They represent the two main parts of the Hebrew Bible. Moses represents the Torah (the “Law”) and Elijah the Nevi’im (the Prophets).
Here is the point: Jesus is not afraid of the darkness of this world. Neither should we. We are called to be right there to shine as bright lights in the darkest of places. And guess what, Jesus came to take back what the enemy has stolen! Hallelujah!!!
Top photo of Mount Hermon is from Shoham Avisrur on Unsplash
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